Welcoming indications from the Home Ministry that the Central Government might accept the proposal of the Omar Abdullah government to enhance the package for re-construction of houses by Kashmiri Pandit Migrants in the Valley from the earlier 7.5 lakhs to 20 lakhs per displaced family, National Conference Spokesman Junaid Mattu has said that this significant enhancement in the package would translate into a major impetus to rehabilitation efforts.
Junaid Mattu said the UPA regime had in 2008 announced a package for return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants in which the assistance offered for reconstruction or construction of houses was capped at Rs. 7.5 lakh. "Based on feedback gained from Migrant families and on ascertaining various issues faced by them, the Omar Abdullah led J&K Government had sent a proposal to the Central Government to enhance the package to Rs. 20 lakh per family for re-construction of their houses in the Valley. The Home Ministry has recently given indications that the proposal sent by the Omar Abdullah government will be approved", the NC Spokesman said.
Lauding this major initiative taken by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, NC Spokesman said that this initiative was in line with National Conference's efforts since Dr. Farooq Abdullah's government in 1996 to ensure a dignified and 'naturalized' return of Kashmiri Pandit Migrants to their homes and in further continuation of various initiatives of relief, reassurance and rehabilitation taken by the Omar Abdullah government since 2008.
Junaid Mattu said that when the National Conference Government took over in 1996 under Dr. Farooq Abdullah, in order to preserve and protect these unattended properties, frequent and high-level directions were passed by Dr. Farooq ABdullah to the government's field agencies and District Administrations to file the status of Kashmiri Pandit properties and ensure their protection. "It was for this precise goal that the Dr. Farooq Abdullah government in 1997, just a year after coming to power in unimaginably troubled times, passed the "Jammu and Kashmir Migrant Immovable property (Preservation, Protection and Restriction on Distress Sale) Act, 1997" to preserve these properties, safeguard the interests of the migrant owners and to also regulate under due process of revenue laws the procedure for alienation and also to prevent instances of distress sale.
The NC Spokesman said that when Mufti Sayeed became the Chief Minister of the State in 2002, he continued with his track-record of 1989 by disappointing Kashmiri Migrants - perhaps on purpose and perhaps partly due to lack of vision. "The PDP government did absolutely nothing to start a process of return for Kashmiri Pandit families. If anything, we remember that it was Mehbooba Mufti who opposed interim relief being provided to migrant families through her brazen opposition to the Jagti township - perhaps a misplaced attempt at pisive posturing within the State", Mattu said. Mattu said that the Omar Abdullah led government since 2008 has taken numerous policy measures for Kashmiri Pandits, including unprecedented reservations in government jobs, creation and allotment of residential facilities for employees hired under the PM's quota for migrants and most significantly now being successful in raising the cap of assistance for reconstruction of Pandit properties from 7.5 to 20 lakhs.
Lashing out at PDP for neglecting the cause of dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits while they were in power, Junaid Mattu said "When Mufti Sayeed became the Chief Minister of the State in 2002, he continued with his track-record of 1989 by disappointing Kashmiri Migrants and exploiting their anguish and pain - partly on purpose and partly due to lack of inclusive vision. The PDP government did absolutely nothing to start a process of return for Kashmiri Pandit families. If anything, we remember that it was Mehbooba Mufti who opposed interim relief being provided to migrant families through her brazen opposition to the Jagti township - perhaps a misplaced attempt at pisive posturing within the State", Mattu added.
The NC Spokesman said the Omar Abdullah led government since 2008 had taken numerous policy measures for Kashmiri Pandits, including unprecedented reservations in government jobs, creation and allotment of residential facilities for employees hired under the PM's quota for migrants and most significantly now being successful in raising the cap of assistance for reconstruction of Pandit properties from 7.5 to 20 lakhs.